The Hidden Festival

The kingdom of Harlos desperately needed a king. King Nicholas Harlos fell ill one summer ago, after the 15th annual Hidden Festival. The finest doctors from three neighboring kingdoms traveled to help him, but no one was good enough. A man as old as King Nicholas could be bested by anything at this point. The entire kingdom knew this day would come.

            So, on the eve of the 16th annual Hidden Festival, the citizens of Harlos crowded the streets in front of the castle. Men waited for their king to walk out laughing, healthy as an ox once more. Women waited for the chance to swoon over the handsome king again. Children waited for their hero to go back to normal. Everyone waited for something, but no one waited for the truth. No one wanted to face the awful fact. The fact that their king had lived a long, happy life and now it is time for him to go. Time to say farewell to the kingdom he’d built from the ground up all those years ago, to the thousands of sons and daughters he’d welcomed into his prosperous land, and -probably the most difficult of them all- he had to say farewell to the hopes of ever seeing his daughter wed.

King Harlos lay in bed, fighting to keep his eyes open. His dear friend, the King of a neighboring kingdom, was by his side. They both knew his time had come, but they were trying so hard to forget that for a moment. King Jonathon Tath held his dear, old friend's hand and spoke only of good times. 

"Do you remember the last time we saw her? She was hardly walking, but she sure was bright. Sharp as a tack, that girl of yours was." Jonathon knew that Nicholas' daughter was a sensitive subject for him, but he just wanted to see his friend's green eyes light up once more. 

Nicholas tried to sit up before he spoke, but just slunk back down in a fit of coughing. Laying alone in the colossal bed made him look small and frail. Nothing at all like the strong man Jonathon used to know.

"Save your strength, Nick, I'm right here," Jonathon gave Nicholas' hand a gentle squeeze. "What is it you have to say?"

"Do you think she'll resent me?" His voice was hardly above a whisper. 

"Don't even ask me that! You wrote to your daughter every day since the first Hidden Festival 20 years ago-" Jonathon's voice hitched. Tears fell free from his ashen, gray eyes. "She knows you did what was best for her."

"Thank you, my friend. You've truly been like a brother to me."

Jonathon's breathing was shaky. He cradled Nicholas' left hand in his own and rocked back and forth."And you to me, Nicholas."

Nicholas looked into Jonathon's eyes, searching for something he just couldnt seem to find. 

"Tell Alaina I love her."

            Thousands cried that night, all gathered together to mourn one great loss. The loss of a father, leader, role model and king. The loss of one magnificent man.